‘A BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS’: Christmas Romance in the Style of ‘Runaway Bride’

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When this wasn’t released on DVD this year, I was a bit disappointed because the photos and plot gave this one away. I knew it’d be one I’d like. Finally I got to prove that theory true.  

A Bride for Christmas (2012) Hallmark TV Film Review

Instead of a phobia of spiders or crazy superstition, Jessie Patterston (Arielle Kebbel) has a phobia of… weddings. She can run a successful interior design company with her sister, just not a life with a man. Just before Christmas she falls into an old pattern; she is about to walk down the aisle for the third time, and like the two times before that, the pressure is starting to get to her. She makes it down the aisle, but runs out on her fiancé before the I Do’s can be recited. This is why she’s sworn off men… until she meets the charming, successful Aiden (Andrew Walker). Even though she’s just come off of her botched wedding, Aiden makes Jessie believe that love is real – that nerves shouldn’t be what a person feels when they say yes to a proposal.

‘A BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS’: Christmas Romance in the Style of ‘Runaway Bride.’ A man bets he can make someone fall for him. Text © Rissi JC

Unbeknownst to Jessie, the entire time she and Aiden are getting to know each other, he has made a bet with friends… a bet that will again leave Jessie running.

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‘A BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS’: Christmas Romance in the Style of ‘Runaway Bride’ #hallmarkarchives #Hallmarkies Click To Tweet

Seriously, this script is one of those that make its viewer go, “aww…” throughout its entirety. Putting aside the fact that it’s got a bad case of the coined term “insta-love,” this seriously, instantly scaled my “list” of favorites in the litany of contemporary-made seasonal movies. Usually none of the actors ruin the televised Christmas movies, still, there is normally one of the leads that could have been cast better, however that was not the misfortune of this flick; for once I adore the leads together. There’s some nice chemistry between them and Aiden reminds any rom-com fan of a young Michael Vartan; Arielle is a nice bubbly personality that brands her as one of those girl-next-door types. 

Watching through this, I “get” why it’s goes unreleased under Hallmark’s branding; it has an “add-in” PC character, so it’s easy to understand. Unless a script that devises to put its leading couple together after a bet troubles you, then A Bride for Christmas is an adorable way to spend 80-some minutes. Like any good moment of truth, Aiden realizes that he loves Jessie. Like most movies, there is an annoying 5-minute break-up before things wrap up with a pretty bow. Overall story is worth it because underneath the clichés, this is (as a production) one of the better Christmas films, and I cannot resist its charms.

Content: one character is homosexual. She goes on a date once and we learn it’s been a long time; we see no details other minor comments. There’s some immodest clothing. The film is PG.

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

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